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Offering in-depth information for modules on research methods for all Early Years and Care course, this title covers: methods and types of research; evaluating and analyzing data; implementing and recording results; and writing reports. It features topical case studies and activities reinforce learning.
A basic understanding of research methods is essential for the successful completion of any essay, project or dissertation in health, social or early years care. This work explains all the key issues and techniques that will be of particular use to students undertaking a research project. The book covers the key areas of research methodology, the literature search, ethics, validity, reliability and referencing. It also provides detailed guidance on planning, conducting and presenting your project.
'How I wish I'd had a book like this when I first started my career as a researcher into early years education and care! There's something for everyone, and I wholeheartedly commend it to those embarking upon, or wishing to extend their knowledge of, early childhood research; - Professor Emeritus Janet Moyles, Early Years & Play Consultant 'This text covers an excellent range of issues. In particular, the mix of academic background to topics and practical application will make it an excellent resource for students' - Damien Fitzgerald, Principal Lecturer in Early Childhood Studies, Sheffield Hallam University This highly engaging and easy-to-read introductory text is tailored to meet the needs of early childhood students. It includes practical examples of research with and about young children and babies, and encourages the reader to take an interactive approach. By offering clear guidance on research methods, as well as advice on how to develop skills as a researcher, the book takes students step by step through the process of doing a research project and provides a detailed grounding in the subject. The book covers: - an introduction to research methodology - various approaches to research, including action research - designing a questionnaire - carrying out observations and interviews - undertaking a piece of independent research from start to finish - understanding and critiquing the research of others - ethical issues in early childhood research - real life examples of how to tackle different aspects of research The authors break down the content into four main sections: Paradigms and Principles; Approaches to Research; Methods; Carrying out a Research Project. Each chapter contains learning objectives, case studies, research in focus sections, reflection points, a summary and suggestions for further reading. The language used throughout is accessible, and a full glossary of terms is included. This book is indispensible for all students undertaking research in early childhood. Penny Mukherji and Deborah Albon are both Senior Lecturers in Early Childhood Studies at London Metropolitan University.
This book examines the methodological decisions made by researchers working in early childhood contexts. Viewed from a researcher's perspective, each chapter explores the journey of the researcher, capturing their decision-making processes in early childhood research. Through themes such as the politics of ethics and how different cultural norms shape research in different localities, Decisions and Dilemmas of Research Methods in Early Childhood Education explores key questions such as: What are the ethical issues arising during early childhood research? Which research traditions and methodologies prevail and why? How are research subjects perceived and positioned within different research contexts? What interdisciplinary tensions or opportunities arise between different ways of working across early childhood research? The book critically unpacks how these decisions are made and by whom during the course of research. Each chapter includes reflections of researchers working across disciplines such as education, health and social work to understand the thinking, forces and actors that shape decisions made during the research process. This is essential reading for researchers working in early childhood contexts in fields such as social work, health, education, criminology, psychology and more.
Packed full of even more examples of research methods in practice, this second edition now comes with a fantastic website giving you all you need to understand research methods in early childhood. With new case studies and reflective tasks throughout, this bestselling textbook covers all you need to know about undertaking research in early childhood, including action research, ethics and doing your research project. Online, you’ll find: - Quizzes to test your methods knowledge - Free journal articles with accompanying activities to broaden understanding and develop critical thinking - Useful web links as well as videos of the authors answering FAQs about research If you are undertaking research in early childhood then this book is for you. ? Penny Mukherji and Deborah Albon will be discussing ideas from Research Methods in Early Childhood in the SAGE Early Years Masterclass, a free professional development experience hosted by Kathy Brodie. To sign up, or for more information, click here.
In today’s evidence-based healthcare culture, child life specialists must demonstrate knowledge and skill not only in clinical care, but also in planning and evaluating the impact of their interventions—yet few resources exist to provide research skills and support for these practitioners. To adequately evaluate, improve, and innovate patient and family outcomes, it is essential that all providers understand the key inquiry pathways of research. Combining clinical examples and skills with candid advice from seasoned child life specialist researchers, this text scaffolds the concept of inquiry into feasible units of action. From identifying a clinical question to assembling a team, designing a project, collecting and analyzing data, and reporting on results, it guides students, professionals, and administrators in actively exploring and improving healthcare outcomes for patients and their families. Case examples from the authors’ own experiences as clinicians and researchers serve to demonstrate how to seamlessly translate clinical skills into those needed for success in research, ensuring that child life specialists remain active contributors to today’s research evidence on the needs of children and families during healthcare encounters.
Research Methods for Early Childhood Education takes an international perspective on research design, and illustrates how research methods are inextricably linked to cultural and theoretical understandings of early childhood, young children's competences and the purposes of education. The book offers a critical and reflective approach to established and innovative research methods in early childhood education, making links between diverse methodologies, methods and theory, with illustrative examples of research in practice. Each chapter addresses a specific methodological approach, linking the methodology to early childhood education with vignettes as examples of research practice in the global north, south, east and west, offering practical examples and critical thinking around new theoretical understandings of early childhood across geographical and cultural contexts. The book critically examines: - the role of the researcher - conceptualisations of how research is undertaken; - the often sensitive nature of conducting research with young children; - how early childhood education is understood; - how young children can be included as active research participants. Throughout, the book emphasises ethical and methodological issues that arise from undertaking research in mono-cultural and cross-cultural contexts. Annotated further reading lists provide a selection of seminal and recent studies that have adopted each methodological approach.
Recent decades have seen an upsurge of research with and about young children, their families and communities. The Handbook of Early Childhood Research will provide a landmark overview of the field of early childhood research and will set an agenda for early childhood research into the future. It includes 31 chapters provided by internationally recognized experts in early childhood research. The team of international contributors apply their expertise to conceptual and methodological issues in research and to relevant fields of practice and policy. The Handbook recognizes the main contexts of early childhood research: home and family contexts; out-of-home contexts such as services for young children and their families; and broader societal contexts of that evoke risk for young children. The Handbook includes sections on: the field of early childhood research and its key contributions new theories and theoretical approaches in early childhood research collecting and analysing data applications of early childhood research This Handbook will become the valuable reference text for students, practitioners and researchers from across the social sciences and beyond who are engaged in research with young children.
Exploring a range of unconventional research methods and considering how these can be used effectively in practice, this accessible textbook encourages the use of innovative approaches to conduct research in early years contexts. Using Innovative Methods in Early Years Research provides key information on a range of non-traditional research methods, and details the strengths, limitations and challenges involved in diverging from more standard research methods. From researching with young children, practitioners and parents, to harnessing the arts, vignettes, identity boxes and narrative accounts, chapters draw on authors’ first-hand experiences to highlight the value of ‘thinking outside the box’ and developing innovative research methods that meet the needs and aims of the researcher, while also involving and empowering research participants. Including detailed information on ethical concerns and the importance of reflexivity, individual and group tasks encourage students to take a critical and well-thought-out approach to conducting independent research. This will be an invaluable and inspiring resource for high-level undergraduate and postgraduate students as they embark on research projects in the field of early years education and care.
